MARCH 4, 2024 — San Antonians will now have a unique opportunity to gain insight into the total solar eclipse slated on Monday, April 8. In a new podcast called Planet UTSA, a special edition podcast series developed by the UTSA Office of University Strategic Communications, several renowned university researchers and their students will explore the impact of the eclipse from various perspectives.
The first of five podcast episodes will debut on Thursday, March 7. Here’s a brief preview of each upcoming episode:
In the series opener, Angela Speck, professor and chair of the UTSA Department of Physics and Astronomy, will discuss the science behind eclipses and what makes them an incredible phenomenon to experience. She’ll also explain why it’s important to view the upcoming total solar eclipse from the path of totality, a 100-mile stretch that will include the UTSA Main Campus.
Peek at the world of eclipse education with Chris Packham, an astrophysics professor in the UTSA Department of Physics and Astronomy. The UTSA researcher is leading an eclipse event for K-12 students. In this episode, Packham will also discuss his work with the Habitable Worlds Observatory, a next-generation telescope.
UTSA professor Lindsay Fuller highlights the work of UTSA students who are building LightSound devices. These products are making eclipses more accessible to individuals who are visually impaired.
Ferhat Ozturk, an assistant professor of practice in the UTSA Department of Integrative Biology, nestled recording devices in his bee hives to record their reactions during last October’s annular eclipse. His findings offer a look into how other living things on this planet respond to eclipses.
Cody Cly, a doctoral candidate in UTSA’s physics and astronomy program, explores how Native Americans view eclipses as spiritual phenomena.
The Planet UTSA podcast is one of several projects in University Strategic Communications’ Eclipse 2024 series. The episodes will be available on Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud and other places where listeners find their podcasts.
Beginning this week, University Strategic Communications will also feature an eclipse-themed story series on UTSA Today that explores how the eclipse will impact individuals and communities. Faculty experts will also discuss various facets of the eclipse in a San Antonio Express-News op-ed series beginning Monday, March 11.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
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